Poll: Support for Cannabis Legalization in the U.S. Remains at Record High

According to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, Americans’ support for cannabis legalization remains at the record high of 68% recorded by the pollster over the last two years. The poll found a majority support for the reforms among most subgroups, including 81% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans. 

The only subgroups that did not back the reforms were conservatives (49%) and respondents who attend church weekly (46%). Support was highest among the non-religious (89%) and liberals (84%). Support among older adults and Hispanic adults was also below the national average at 53% and 56%, respectively.  

The majority of individuals aged 18-29 from all political ideologies backed cannabis legalization, including 65% of young conservatives, 82% of young moderates, and 86% of young liberals. Fifty-nine percent of conservatives aged 30-49 favored legalization, along with 78% of the moderate cohort and 85% of liberals of the same age. Support among 50- 64-year-old conservatives was 49%, while 70% of moderates and 82% of liberals from the same age group backed the reforms. Just 32% of conservatives 65 and older supported legalization, along with 62% of moderates and 81% of liberals of the same age.         

When Gallup first asked about legalizing cannabis in 1969, just 12% of Americans were in favor. Support reached 31% in 2000 and surpassed the majority level in 2013. Since 2016, at least six in 10 have been in favor.